Destrudo the Lost Dragon's Frisson
————————————————
If this card is in your hand or GY: You can pay half your LP, then target 1 Level 6 or lower monster you control; Special Summon this card, and if you do, this card's Level is reduced by the Level of the targeted monster, also place this card on the bottom of the Deck if it leaves the field. You can only use this effect of "Destrudo the Lost Dragon's Frisson" once per turn.
————————————————
Can Be Found In: Circuit Break (CIBR-EN038)
The most used Tuners among many Decks often carry very low stats, as they will be supported by a big list of options to bring them out right on time for all kinds of Synchro Summons. This clearly overshadows Tuners with high Levels, often ignored as they often require a reversed approach to more common setups. However, despite not being popular as their smaller members, high Level Tuners will carry the same kind of effects that makes them reliable tools to prepare Synchro Summons of all kind.
"Destrudo the Lost Dragon's Frisson" is a high Level Tuner that can become more versatile than it looks despite its stats. If "Destrudo" is either in our hand or Graveyard, we can target a Level 6 or below monster and pay half our Life Points to Special Summon it. This will cause the Level of "Destrudo" to be reduced by the Level of the monster we targetted as requeriment for that summoning effect, so can go from becoming a Level 1 Tuner to 6 upon its arrival. However, once "Destrudo" leaves the field after being summoned by its effect will be sent to the bottom of our Deck, becoming the main catch when comes to working as material. But even despite this big drawback along the fact we have to pay half our Life Points, "Destrudo" offers a lot of possibilities by not only assisting our Extra Deck but also thanks to the supporting tools arround monsters of its kind.
With the ability to summon itself from our hand or Graveyard, "Destrudo" can take big shortcuts thanks to its own stats to follow with its own abilities. As a Dragon we can use cards like "Dragon Ravine" as well other milling effects such as "Dark Grepher" to send it to the Graveyard, becoming very useful tools right after "Destrudo" is sent back to our Deck by its own effect. With the ability to revive itself, "Destrudo" can be used as the main cost of many cards like "Cards of Consonance" and "Phoenix Wing Wind Blast" to dispose it from our hand and bring it to the field afterwards. Overall all we have to really work with is to summon a proper monster for its Special Summon, which can go from Normal Summoning a small creature to monsters with their own Special Summon mechanics like "Cyber Dragon" or "Level Eater" among several others. However, don't hesistate on summoning "Destrudo" by other methods if we already used its effect or saving it for later moves during that turn, as with solid choices such as "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" and "Limit Reverse" we can bring "Destrudo" with its default Level for further setups.
Despite its massive DEF, like any other Tuner "Destrudo" will mainly focus on setting up all kinds of Extra Deck summons with its own arrival. We will lose half our Life Points by summoning this creature, but as the Duel progresses such cost won't be as severe if we can manage ourselves to survive until late game. Although seems that losing Level is a drawback actually makes "Destrudo" a reliable material for Level 7 Synchro Summons, as the loss by targetting the proper monster on our field will match them to work together for said setups. Obviously "Destrudo" is not all about Synchro Summons as can also assist us with Link Summons, and with some proper management of monsters it will also help with Xyz Summons that will ignore its negative of returning to our Deck. Finally, if we manage to summon "Destrudo" with Level 5 or above and we follow with another cheap summon like "Instant Fusion" or "Destiny HERO - Malicious" is quite possible to bring out "Ultimaya Tzolkin", a powerful creature with an ability to summon Synchro Monsters while avoiding most dangers in the process.
While is rare to see high Level Tuners become staple choices since back when Synchro Monsters debuted, "Destrudo the Lost Dragon's Frisson" can become a big exception due all the support and possibilities arround it. The Level reduction by default prepares "Destrudo" and the monster we targetted for a Level 7 Synchro Summon, but with a few extra steps we can also aim for Xyz Summons or the arrival of bigger monsters like "Ultimaya Tzolkin" and "Leo, the Keeper of the Sacred Tree". Obviously paying half our Life Points and returning to the bottom of our Deck are big drawbacks to be aware of, but on the other hand with several effects to prepare "Destrudo" in our Graveyard by all sorts of sources makes it an abusable material from start to finish. Clearly the Life Point cost is the biggest problem but only in our first turns, so while there's a good chance to make a big setup in early game might be recommended to keep "Destrudo" for later uses in case the opponent has a big counter to take advantage of our Life Points becoming halved. Overall, while "Destrudo" has some flaws to be careful with, is a powerful Tuner that offers much more than might apparent.
+ Summons itself from our hand or Graveyard
+ Being summoned by its effect will reduce its Level and usually prepare it right away for a Level 7 Synchro Summon
+ Has a good chance to expand its setups arround Xyz Monsters and expensive Synchro Monsters
+ Highly supported
- We must pay half our Life Points for its own Special Summon
- If leaves the field after using its effect will be sent to the bottom of our Deck instead